Picture this: Betty White walks into her birthday bash, and there’s her Hollywood dreamboat, Robert Redford, sitting right there! Or so she thought. As Patty Sullivan, her confidante of over five decades, shares exclusively with Closer, it wasn’t the real deal but a life-size cardboard cutout of the legendary actor. Still, the shock was palpable. “Betty opened the door and almost fainted,” Patty recounts with a laugh. “Her face turned bright red, and she kept saying, ‘No, you didn’t! You didn’t!’”
December 31, 2021, marked the passing of Betty White at the ripe old age of 99. Yet, her memory lives on through the cherished stories Patty Sullivan shares in her new book, Betty White’s Pearls of Wisdom: Life Lessons from a Beloved American Treasure. Patty, who was Betty’s dear friend for 53 years, reveals, “I still feel her presence so strongly. Writing this book felt like sending a love letter to Betty, a way to keep her incredible legacy alive.”
Betty’s Unforgettable Charm
Patty’s journey with Betty began in 1968 on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she met the legendary couple, Betty and her husband, Allen Ludden, at a local pub where Patty’s future husband, Tom Sullivan, was performing. “Betty and Allen were doing a summer stock show nearby,” Patty reminisces. “I remember Betty being so radiant, glowing with love and happiness. She was truly dazzling.”
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A Match Made in Heaven
Allen, too, seemed utterly smitten by his wife. “He was completely captivated by her,” Patty says. “They helped me capture Tom’s attention. They singled me out and told him, ‘Hey, Tom, take a look at her.’ It worked! We got married a year later.” Patty and Tom’s relationship was deeply inspired by the love Betty and Allen shared. “We wanted our love to reflect what they had,” Patty adds.
Betty and Allen’s Dream Home
In 1981, Betty and Allen realized a long-held dream by building a vacation home in Carmel, California. “They found the perfect spot above the hillside where they often walked on the beach,” Patty explains. “The house was designed to maximize the breathtaking views of the bay and Point Lobos. You could see the sand and waves from every level. It was magical.”
Tragically, Allen passed away from stomach cancer just months after the house was completed. Initially, Betty considered selling the property. “It was supposed to be a place they’d share for years,” Patty says. “But Betty’s mother, Tess, encouraged her to keep it, calling it a place to shed her tears. Betty decided to hold on to it, and it became her sanctuary.”
Years later, the home sold for nearly $11 million. For Betty, it became a place to reflect, walk along the beach, and collect sea glass, which became one of her favorite hobbies. “She’d gather pieces in brilliant colors like lime green, royal blue, and rare red,” Patty recalls. “Betty would create beautiful art pieces with them, placing them in her front window to catch the morning sun. It was stunning.”
A Life Full of Fun and Friendship
Betty spent countless holidays with Patty, Tom, and their children, who adored her like a grandmother. “We celebrated every New Year’s Eve and Day together for the last 15 years,” Patty says. “I’d cook, and one year, we watched a Tony Bennett concert special after dinner. Betty loved it. She was a true showbiz enthusiast.” The group also played Scrabble, with Betty often emerging as the winner. “She was fiercely competitive,” Patty chuckles.
Betty’s social calendar was packed with activities, including regular poker games with close friends. “They played at least once a month, sometimes twice,” Patty reveals. A sports enthusiast, Betty enjoyed watching Jeopardy! and pro golf tournaments on TV. In the last decade, she’d often visit Patty’s house on Sundays to watch the Masters or any game featuring Tiger Woods. “Betty adored golf,” Patty says.
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And let’s not forget Betty’s love for a good time. “Her go-to drink was vodka on the rocks with a twist of lemon,” Patty confides. “She truly loved a good party.”
Cherished Friendships
Betty’s circle of friends was diverse and included both famous and non-famous individuals. Among her closest showbiz pals were Carl Reiner, Dinah Shore, Burt Reynolds, Robert Wagner, and Jill St. John. Her Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Georgia Engel was also a constant companion. “We were fortunate to have Georgia join us for a couple of Thanksgivings and Christmases,” Patty says. “They were such special friends.”
The pandemic in 2020 brought a halt to Betty’s social life, but she stayed connected through virtual means. “One of her last calls was a Zoom session with Allen’s children,” Patty recalls. Patty had the opportunity to see Betty one final time near Christmas 2021. “Her doctor insisted we stay only 15 minutes, but we stayed longer,” Patty
